Electric curling-iron.



No. 727,468. PATENTED MAY 5., 1903. M. SHEPHERD.

ELECTRIC GURLING IRON.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1902.

NO MODEL.

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PATENT OFFICE.

MURRAY SHEPHERD, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ELECTRIC CURLlNG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,468, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed April 29, 1902. Serial No. 105,149. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURRAY SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Curling-Irons, of which the following is a description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to curling-irons and analogous devices and means by which they are adapted to be heated by an electric current.

In the ordinary use of a curling-iron the iron is heated by direct contact with flame or otherwise and then removed from the source of heat to be applied to the hair. Where oilburning lamps or gas are used for illuminating purposes, the curling-iron may readily be heated by the flame of the lamp or the gas-jet; but where electricity is used for lighting it is necessary either to provide heating-lamps especially for heating the curling-irons or to make use of a special construction of curlingiron and special appliances for utilizing the current for heating it.

It is the purpose of myinvention to produce a curling-iron adapted to be heated by the electric current which is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive and is adapted to be used in connection with the ordinary incandescent-light current and means by which the iron may be readily inserted in and removed from the electric circuit.

With this purpose in View my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the curling-iron in position in the heating device, the electrical connection between two of the terminals at opposite ends of the device being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line b b of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the heating device on line a a of Fig. 1...

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates the cylindrical member of the curlingiron or curling-tongs,'consisting of a metallic tube.. The other member 2 of the curlingiron or curling-tongs consists of a strip of metal adapted to fit the cylindrical member 1 and pivoted thereto by a pivot 3. The member 2 has an arm 4 extending rearward at an angle, preferably provided at its end with a non-conducting thumb-piece 5. A spring 6, secured tothe arm 4, holds the member 2 normally in contact with the member 1. Pressure on the thumb-piece 5 turns the member 2 on its pivot 3, separating the members to permit the hair to be coiled on the cylindrical member 1. The member 1 is provided with a handle 7, of wood or other non-conducting material, provided with a ferrule 8, which is preferably notched to receive the ends of the pivot 3, the ferrule thus steadying the pivot. The ferrule also forms a bearing for the end of the spring 6.

Within the cylindrical member 1 is arranged a pair of insulated conducting-wires 9 and 10. The insulating material with which these wires are covered terminates a short distance below their ends, leaving the exposed ends 9 and 10. The wire 9 extends nearly to the end of the cylindrical member 1 The wire 10 is shorter, terminating preferably about one and one-half inches from the terminal of the wire 9. The space between the terminals 9 and 10 is filled with a resisting material, preferably consisting of a mixture of finelyground or powdered iron-borings, graphite, and native oxid of manganese. The graphite prevents the I borings from massing together, and the oxid of manganese serves to give the mixture the necessary resistance to the passage of the current.

The mixture above described will stand a high degree of heat without change and is adapted to be readily packed into the tube 1 and is not affected by jars or shocks due to dropping the curling-iron or to blows and is not affected by extremes of heat and cold, which might cause a rod or plate of carbon to crack.

The space Within the cylindrical member 1 above and below the terminals 9 and 10 is preferably packed with asbestos or mineral wool 11, by which the resisting material is held in place. The outer end of the cylindrical member is preferably closed by ascrewplug 11'.

The conducting-wires 9 and 10 are preferably made of nickel wire, though they may be of any other conducting material. The conductingw'ires 9 and 10 extend through the tendingthrough the handle and through a sleeve of insulating material 14, placed within thesleeve12. 'lheinsi'llating-sleeve14serves to keep the WireJO from possible contact with the sleeve 12. At its outer end the wire 10 is secured in electrical contact with a cylindrical metallic piece 15, which is suitably tapered at its outer end'and forms one of the external contacts. The other external contact is formed by theportion 19 of the sleeve 12 beyond the screw-threads 13. Between the end of the sleeve 12 and the contact is interposed a collar 16, of non-conducting material, which maybe conveniently made in one piece with the sleeve 14, as shown. The hollow handle 7 is held in place, with the notches of its ferrule 8 against the ends of the pivot 3, by means of a screw-collar 17, adapted to fit the screw-threads 13 and having ahead 18, fitting against the outer end of the handle. The external contacts 15 and 19 being placed in electrical contact with the terminals of a suitable electric circuit, the current will pass from contact 19 through the conducting-Wire 9, its terminal 9, through the resisting material to the terminal 10 of the wire 10, and thence back to the contact 15. The passage of the current through the resisting material heats it, bringing the cylindrical member 1 and also the member 2, if the latter remains in contact with the cylindrical member, up to the required heat Without heating the contacts 15 and 19.

In order to conveniently heat the curlingiron by the ordinary lighting-circuit, I provide a device 20 adapted at one end to be inserted in the usual lamp-socket and at the other end with a socket to receive a lampbulb, and having intermediate its ends contacts with which the contacts 15 and 19 may be readily placed in circuit. This device is so arranged that when the iron is not being heated the full current will pass to the lamp, and when the iron is in position to be heated the heating-conductor will be in series with the lamp. The device 20 is provided at the end which is intended to be inserted in the lamp-socket with the exteriorlyscrew-threaded collar 21, adapted to be screwed into and to make contact with the screw-threaded portion of the lamp-socket. Within the screwthreaded collar 21 and separated therefrom by suitable insulation 22 is a contact 23, adapted to be forced into contact with the central terminal contact of the lamp-socket when the device is screwed into place in the lamp-socket. At its other end the device 20 is provided with an interiorly-screw-threaded collar 24 and a central terminal contact 25. The collar 24 and central contact 25 are carried by a block of insulating material 26, with which the insulation 22 is preferably integral. The collar verges 21 and the collar 24 are electrically connected, preferably by a wire 27, soldered or otherwise secured to the collar 21 at one end and at the other end secured to the collar 24 by a screw 28, the wire 27 extending through passage formed for it in the insulating material 26, as shown' in Fig. 3, this wire being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The contact 23 is electrically connected with a contactplate 29, having an opening through it adapted to receive either of the contacts 15 or 19. A similar contact-plate 30, having its opening in line with the opening in the contact-plate 29, is arranged in the insulating material 26. The contact-plates 29 and 30 are so arranged as to receive between them a circuit-closer 31, preferably a ball, and the contact-plate 30 is electrically connected with the central contact 25. The circuit-closer 31 is normally pressed forward into contact with the contact-plates 29 and 30 by a spring 32. When the circuit-closer is pressed backward against the force of the spring 32, the circuit is broken and no current passes to the lamp unless the curling-iron is in place, as hereinafter described. WVhen the curling-iron is to be heated, the terminal contact 15 is inserted into the opening in the contact-plate 29, and as it comes in mechanical contact with the circuitcloser 31 presses the latter back against the force of the spring 32. As the contact 15 passes the circuit-closer 31 it comes in contact with the contact-plate 30, and as the circuit-closer 31 is held back out of operation by the insulating-collar between the contacts 15 and 19 the current will pass from the central contact 23 to the contact-plate 29 and through the contact 19, the conducting-wires 9 and 10, and the resisting material to the contact 15, the contact-plate 30, the central contact 25, the lamp, the collar 24, the wire 27, to the collar 21. The insulating material 26 is suitably cut away at 33 and 34 to receive the end of the handle,and it will be understood that it makes no difference from which side the contact 15 is inserted, as the effect is the same Whether the current through the wires 9 and 10 and the interposed resisting material is in one directionor the other. The pressure of the spring 32 against the circuit-closer 31 serves to keep the contacts 15 and 19 in contact with the contact-plates 29 and 30.

By the device described the curling-iron is rapidly heated,"and at the same time it is not injured if left in circuit for a considerable time. The light is interfered with only so long as the circuit-closer 31 is held out of contact with the contact-plates 29 and 30, and when the contacts 15 and 19 are in contact with contact-plates 29 and 30 the lamp will glow to a greateror less extent, depending on the current.

It Will be understood that I do not limit my invention to the heating of curling-irons, as the construction above described is adapted for the heating of devices for other purposes.

The resistance material consisting of the mixture above described is capable of use in any device which is to be heated by the electric current, and I do not desire to be limited to its use in curling-irons or in any particular class of devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In a curling-iron or analogous device, the combination of a hollow member, a hollow handle connected thereto, a pair of conducting-wires having their terminals arranged within and out of circuit with the hollow member and resisting material between the terminals, the wires extending through the hollow handle and having their outer ends connected with contacts arranged at the end of the handle opposite the hollow member; substantially as described.

2. In a curling-iron or analogous device, the combination of a hollow member, a hollow handle connected thereto, a pair of insulated conductingwires having their terminals arranged within and out of circuit with the hollow member, finely-divided resisting material arranged between the terminals, the wires extending also through the hollow handle and having their ends connected to contacts arranged at the end of the handle opposite the hollow member; substantially as described.

3, Ina curling-iron oranalogous device, the combination of a hollow member, a hollow handle connected thereto, a pair of conducting-wires having their terminals arranged within and out of circuit with the hollow member, finely-divided resisting material within the hollow member between the terminals, the wires extending through the hollow handle, one of the wires being connected to a sleeve extending from the handle at the end opposite to the hollow member, and the other wire extending through the sleeve and connected with a contact exterior to the sleeve; substantially as described.

4. In a curling-iron oranalogous device, the combination of a hollow member, a hollow handle connected thereto, a pair of conducting-wires having their terminals arranged within the hollow member, resisting material within the hollow memberbetween the terminals, the wires extending through the hollow handle, one of the wires being connected to a screw-threaded sleeve extending from the handle at the end opposite the hollow memher, the other wire extending through the sleeve and connected with a contact exterior to the sleeve, and a hollow screw engaging the screw-threaded sleeve and bearing against the end of the handle; substantially as described.

5. In a curling-iron or analogous device, the combination of a hollow member, a pair of conducting-wires having their terminals arranged within the hollow member; resisting material between the terminals, the wires having their ends connected with contacts external to the hollow member, the said external contacts being arranged in line, with insulating material interposed between them and a device having a plug-terminal at one end adapted to fit an incandescent-lamp socket and at the other end having an incandescent-lamp socket, the device being provided intermediate its ends with contacts adapted to receive the contacts of the conducting-wires, a circuit-closer normally connecting the intermediate contacts, adapted to be forced out of operative position by the contacts of the conducting-wires and suitable connections between the plug-terminal, the intermediate contacts and the lampsocket; substantially as described.

6. The combination of a curling-iron or other instrument adapted to be heated by an electric current, and having external contacts as described, and a device for connecting said external contacts with the source of the electric current, having at one end an incandescent-lamp socket, and at the other end, a plug socket, adapted to be received by an ordinary incandescent-lamp socket, said device being provided between its ends with a transverse opening extending through it, and having contacts arranged in said opening suitably connected respectively with a contact of the lamp-socket and a contact of the plug-terminal, and a yielding circuit-closer, normally connecting said contacts arranged in said opening, the contacts of the lamp-socket and plug-terminal not connected with the contacts arranged in the opening, being suitably connected.

'7. The combination of a curling-iron or other instrument adapted to be heated by an electric current, and having external contacts arranged in line, and both of the same diameter, and adevice for connecting said external contacts withthe source of the electric current having at one end an incandescent-lamp socket, and at the other end a plug-socket adapted to be received by an ordinary incandescent-lamp socket, said device being provided between its ends with a transverse opening, having contacts arranged in said opening and consisting of plates each having an opening therein adapted to receive one of the terminal contacts of the instrument to be heated, one of said contact-plates being connected with a contact of the socket and the other with a contact of the plug-terminal, a circuit-closer normally connecting the contact-plates and means for holding said circuitcloser out of operation when the external contacts of the instrument are in contact respectively with the contact-plates.

8. The combination of a curling-iron or other instrument adapted to be heated by an electric current and having external contacts arranged in line, and both of the same diameter, and a device for connecting said external contacts with the source of the electric current, having at one end an incandescentlamp socket, and at the other end a plug-terminal the plug-terminal, a circuit-closer normally connecting the two contact-plates, and means for holding said circuit-closer out of operation when the external contacts of the instrument are in contact respectively with the contact-plates In testimony whereof I affix my signature presence of two witnesses.

MURRAY SHEPHERD.

l i in I -Witnesses:

RAY S. BOWMAN, BISMARCK SNYDER. 

